Keeping in view the importance of forests in our life, the people all over the world have stopped unnecessary deforestation. Our Government has also made laws to prevent unnecessary felling of trees. Government has decided to declare certain forests as protected areas. These protected areas are called Reserves or wild Life Sanctuaries. Here no one is allowed to hunt animals. There are about 150 wild life sanctuaries in India. People come from all over the world to see these sanctuaries. They consist of some of the most beautiful and rare animals.
The largest sanctuary is in West Bengal. It is called the Sunderbans. This sanctuary is famous for its Bengal tigers. The other well known sanctuaries are Kaziranga in Assam, in Gujarat, Bundipur in Karnataka, Kanha in Madhya Pradesh. Corbetf in Uttar Pradesh, Palamau in Bihar and Periyar in Kerala.
The Government has made plans to grow more trees. Vanmahotsava is celebrated every year to plant more trees. Thousands of school children participate in the Van-mahotsava and plant trees every year. Chipko Movement and Narmada Bachao Andolan are some of the movements to save forests and wild life in India. Chipko Movement was started by Shri Sunderlal Bahuguna in Tehri District of Uttar Pradesh. The women of a village in Tehri clung to the trees and protected them from being cut down. Shrimati Medha Patekar started a Movement named Narmada Bachao Andolan to save the forests and wild life in the Narmada region.